Chevy insists that it isn’t just making yet another crossover to follow in the footsteps of the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave. At the same time, however, Chevy doesn’t want to drift to far from a winning formula. As a result, the Chevy Traverse will keep the three rows of seats and similar overall design elements of other crossovers.
The main difference that Chevy is touting is the performance of the Traverse. The Traverse achieves impressive performance numbers using a direct-injection V-6 engine. The engine provides much more power than competitors’ crossovers.
Perhaps the most eye-catching feature of the Traverse is a new option from one of GMs trusted vendors: XM NavTraffic Service.Â
XM NavTraffic Service offers subscribers real-time traffic reports. XM subscribers will be able to see adverse traffic conditions by listing the conditions on the Chevy Traverse’s XM screen.Â
Of course, XM will offer the new traffic service to any subscriber, but GM is making it a factory installed option on the Traverse. Factory installed navigation systems were once reserved for exotic car models, but Chevy is hoping that XM’s new feature will lure commuters into showrooms to look at the Traverse. Of course, some purists will never place anything as mundane as the Traverse into the realm of truly exotic cars. For those with a passion to drive the best from Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin, entrepreneurs have developed exotic car sharing clubs.Â
Rather than trying to amass a collection of exotic cars, members of exotic car sharing clubs can experience driving the best of the best many without ever owning. “Cars depreciate and most exotic depreciate by tens of thousands of dollars during a typical year of ownership,†insists Dallas Car Club founder Ron Sturgeon. “Why own one or two, when membership lets you have the keys to a garage with 40 or more elite vehicles?â€
Developed first in the UK, these car sharing clubs have become a popular alternative to buying an exotic car among those drivers who want to drive a variety of cars. Popular American clubs include DFW Elite Car Club (http://www.dfwelitecarclub.com/) in Fort Worth, TX and Gotham Dreamshare in the New York and Florida (www.gothamdreamcars.com/dreamshare-club.htm), and the Otto Club in Boston (http://www.theottoclub.com/). Â
The growth of the car sharing concept has spawned new clubs across the United States. To find out about memberships in the city where you live, consult a free online directory devoted to exotic car clubs such as http://www.exoticcarclubs.com/.
“With some many exciting cars arriving in the market, it really is a shame for people with a passion for driving to be limited to only one or two at a time,†says Sturgeon. “Crossing over from ownership to membership is one way to drive them all,†insists the Dallas businessperson.
Written by G.D. Gregory. If you are interested in having me write stories for you or seeing my portfolio, please contact me at ggpsu@yahoo.com. Garrett is a regular contributor of stories to our blog. Check out more of his writing on our daily car club headlines page.
